“Too many women in too many countries speak the same language of silence,” the Honorable Paulette Irons, civil district court judge for Orleans Parish and former Louisiana state senator, said at the 2005 Women’s History Month Luncheon Tuesday.The topic of the speech Irons gave was “Women Change America, Women Change Louisiana!”
“When a woman gives her love, as most women do generously, it is accepted. When a woman shares her thoughts, as some women do graciously, it is allowed. When a woman fights for power, as all women would like to quietly or loudly, it is questioned,” Irons said.
The Louisiana Center for Women and Government honored Sabrina Laurent, coordinator of the Women’s Resource and Services Office, and Sara Dugas, psychology senior from Berwick, with the “Woman of Achievement” award.
Dugas is the president of the Women’s Advancement Organization (WAO).
WAO has worked to make the campus safer. “We went on a walk through of the University,” Dugas said.
It included Nicholls ground crews who helped WAO trim bushes around sidewalks.
“We did a bake sale to raise funds to buy toys for the juvenile justice facility in Lafourche Parish, and some of the (WAO) members participated in the Vagina Monologues,” Dugas said.
Dugas was happy to hear her named called as the recipient of the award. “When she started reading the nominations, I started crying. I was very surprised that I won and am honored and extremely happy to win,” Dugas said. “I will carry on my work.”
Laurent was surprised when she received the award. “I am very honored. The great thing is that there were so many wonderful people from Nicholls that were nominated. All the women who were nominated were certainly deserving, and I appreciate that the selection committee thought highly of the work we do in the Women’s Resource and Services Office,” Laurent said.
As coordinator, Laurent oversees the work that is done in the Women’s Resource and Services Office.
“The Women’s Resource and Services Office provides direct services for women on our campus, whether they be faculty, staff or students that are victims or survivors of violence, specifically the violence of sexual violence, relationship violence and stalking,” Laurent said.
The “Woman of Achievement” award is given annually to a Nicholls faculty or staff member and student.
